Nobushige Takeda

Nobushige Takeda (1525-10 September 1561) was a general of the Takeda clan and a younger brother of daimyo Shingen Takeda of Kai Province. Nobushige was the original heir apparent of his father Nobutora Takeda, but Shingen seized the land, wealth, and power for himself. Nevertheless, Nobushige fought alongside Shingen until his death at the Battle of Kawanakajima.

Biography
Nobushige Takeda was born in 1525, the second son of Nobutora Takeda, the younger brother of Shingen Takeda, and the older brother of Nobukado Takeda. Nobushige held the favor of his father and was meant to inherit the clan's wealth, land, and power, but Shingen seized power for himself. Nobushige nevertheless remained loyal to his clan and was known for his wisdom, writing 99 rules for the Takeda clan members (the Kyujukyu Kakun).

In 1545, Nobushige defeated a Murakami clan invasion of Kai Province at the Battle of Kofu, and proceeded to capture Matsumoto Castle from daimyo Yoshikiyo Murakami, destroying the Murakami clan. In 1553 he captured Katsurao Castle from the Murakami alongside Yoshinobu Takeda, forcing Yoshikiyo Murakami to desert his clan to join the Uesugi.

Known as one of the "Twenty-Four Generals of Shingen Takeda", Nobushige continued to play an important role in his clan's military strength. Along with his great-uncle Torasada Murozumi, Nobushige commanded Takeda forces in the 1561 Battle of Kawanakajima in a decisive showdown with the army of Kenshin Uesugi and led the pursuit of retreating Uesugi units. However, Nobushige and Torasada were both killed in action in one of the bloodiest battles of the Sengoku Period.